When Mick Abel called his dad back home in Oregon a few days ago, the conversation began differently than usual. “Is mom in the room?” Abel asked. Abel’s dad put Mick’s mom on speaker phone, then added his brother to the call.

Mick Abel will make one start for the Phillies, no matter the result. The team hopes his brief cameo will be successful.

It's been almost eight years since Nola, one of the most durable pitchers in the sport, last went on the injured list.